Nick Watney Grip

Pros and Cons of Every Golf Grip Style

Best Grip? Overlapping vs Interlocking

Sure, he’s 6’2”, 180 pounds and flexible as a gymnast. Natural gifts aside, Nick Watney’s grip is still designed for power.

Watney’s strong grip is a sign of the times, for sure. Many big golfers, not content to rely on their innate strength, seek extra distance via the powerful release a strong grip provides. Think Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley and J.B. Holmes, among others.

Watney fits the same mold. Rather than grip the club in a neutral fashion, the Fresno State alum twists his left hand well to the right on the club’s handle. Looking face-on, you can see that the “V” formed by thumb and index finger points toward Watney’s right shoulder. There’s also a dramatic angle between the back of the hand and his wrist.

Mirroring this position, Watney’s right hand points the “V” up the right arm with the slightest bow in the back of his wrist. By contrast, a neutral right hand’s “V” is aligned with the handle and the wrist is cupped.

No doubt about it, the grip supplies a great deal of power. Except for a slight dip in 2013, Watney typically averages around 300 yards per drive.

Nick Watney’s grip with the putter is also strong which, unlike his full-swing grip, is a relative rarity. Wand in hands, Watney rotates his mitts well to his right rather than aligning them with the handle’s flat front surface. This method appears to allow for more wrist action in Watney’s stroke and is similar to Brad Faxon’s highly effective putting grip.

Watney, however, does not enjoy Faxon-like success on the greens. The four-time PGA TOUR winner ranked 115th in strokes gained putting for 2014.

Vardon / Overlapping Grip: Method of holding the club by placing the right pinky finger on top of the crease between the left index and middle fingers. Named for British golf legend Harry Vardon.

Interlocking Grip: Method of holding the club by wedging or locking the right pinky finger between the left index and middle fingers.

Neutral: Position in which the hands are directly aligned with the clubface. The golfer with a neutral grip can typically see two full knuckles on the back of the left hand when addressing the ball.

Weak: Position in which the hands are rotated left (toward the target) on the club’s handle. The golfer with a weak grip can typically see one full knuckle on the back of the left hand when addressing the ball.

Strong: Position in which the hands are rotated right (away from the target) on the club’s handle. The golfer with a strong grip can typically see more than two full knuckles on the back of the left hand when addressing the ball.

Reverse Overlap Putting Grip: Conventional putting grip style with the left hand above the right and the left index finger extending downward, on top of the fingers of the right hand.

Cross-Handed / Left Hand Low Putting Grip: The right hand is placed at the top of the handle, above the left hand, the opposite of a conventional grip.

Claw Putting Grip: The left hand is placed in the conventional position, at the top of the handle, with the right hand lower on the handle and holding the club between the thumb (on the grip’s underside) and fingers.